Kitchen backsplash provides canvas for artistic expression
reading Q. We are redecorating our kitchen on a small budget and want it to look artsy. We love color and know from your columns that you will have a good idea or two. Thanks for your help.
A. The backsplash spaces in your kitchen present the perfect spots to add color and your own design details. There are lots of exciting options.
If there are already tiles in place, you can paint over them using a good-quality acrylic paint. Prepare the tiles first by cleaning and sanding them; then apply a high-hide primer that is designed for slippery surfaces. Apply two base coats of your chosen color.
Next, map out a design that will personalize the backsplash. You can add a border design with squiggles and lines, or paint polka dots onto the tiles. You can also use a stencil to fill in central tiles with a motif. It’s like painting a picture, with the tiles acting like graph paper.
If your backsplash area is not already tiled, you can buy inexpensive white tiles and paint them to make your own design. You might want to check out the stunning — but often costly — tile choices, and choose a small selection of embossed or glass tiles as a focal point. Then fill in the remaining space with plain, less-expensive tiles.
Shown here is a backsplash I created for a small apartment kitchen that needed
some fresh character. We applied tiles on a diagonal to break up the linear motion of the cabinets.
Ceramic paint, found in craft stores, was used to color the tiles. Dip a brush into the paint, and brush it onto the tiles, always brushing in the same direction. Don’t worry about the brush marks; they add an appealing naive quality to the painting. The ceramic paint comes with directions on how to heat the tiles in the oven after painting to set the paint color. Once the tiles are all cool, use tile glue to apply them to the wall; then add grout.
Another option is to make your own mirrored tile design. Mirror tiles are cut to size using a glass cutter. Score the tile with one end of a glass cutter. To break, tap the tile over the score line. The edges of the tiles are sharp, so wear gloves, and sand the edges once cut. Your design can include both mirrored and painted tiles. You can paint over the mirrored tiles using glass paint, if desired.
Q. I am painting my kitchen backsplash in a diagonal tile pattern. I’ve chosen a midtone color for the tiles, and I want the “grout” lines to be a shimmery mother-ofpearl finish so the grout stands out. Does that sound strange? Please tell me how to do this. In what order do I paint?
A. All you need to paint these faux tiles is lots of tape — and, of course, paint.
First, prime the backsplash space and let it dry. Next, apply two coats of your midtone tile color. You don’t say whether these will be glossy tiles; semigloss would look good. Let the base coat dry and set for 24 hours, as you will be taping over it.
Next, mark off your diagonal tile pattern with chalk lines. Lay down tape on each side of each chalk line creating 1/4-inch grout lines around each faux tile. Use a small artist’s brush to fill in the grout lines with your shimmery paint. Remove the tape before the paint is dry so you can do touch-ups as needed.